Flasher and bulb outage circuit therefor

ABSTRACT

The following specification describes a vehicle flasher utilizing a coil for driving a reciprocating spring-biased mass through a gear train to control the on-off time of a lamp. A cam moved with the mass is arranged to operate contacts for lighting the lamp after the mass is accelerated in one direction and an arm also moved with the mass is arranged to assist in contact separation after the mass is accelerated in the return direction. Additionally, the specification describes systems for use with the described flasher to signal lamp failure.

United States Patent [72] Inventors ArthurJ. Little Springfield; William R. Mayer, Rochester; Frank A. Ryder, Springfield, all of I11. [21] Appl. No. 785,861 [22] Filed Dec. 16, 1968 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee Stewart-Warner Corporation Chicago, 111.

Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 695,767, Jan. 4, 1968, now abandoned.

[54] FLASHER AND BULB OUTAGE CIRCUIT THEREFOR 6 Claims, 18 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 340/81, 335/74, 340/80, 340/251 [51] Int. Cl B60q l/38 [50] Field of Search 340/52, 54,

[56] References Cited UN lTED STATES PATENTS 1,585,318 5/192 6 Iupper 335/93 X 1,585,319 5/1926 Tupper 340/331 UX 2,514,836 7/1950 Buntzman 335/89 2,814,692 11/1957 Van Eyk 335/90 2,825,770 3/1958 Helsper 335/63 X 2,870,282 l/1959 Brand 200/67 PK UX 3,014,209 12/1961 Nunn..... 340/331 3,370,199 2/1968 Kabriel 340/52 3,480,944 11/1969 Hayden 340/331 FOREIGN PATENTS 762,913 12/1956 Great Britain 335/93 Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner- Kenneth N. Leimer Attorneys-Augustus G. Douvas, William J. Newman and Morton Lesser ABSTRACT: The following specification describes a vehicle flasher utilizing a coil for driving a reciprocating spring-biased mass through a gear train to control the on-off time of a lamp. A cam moved with the mass is arranged to operate contacts for lighting the lamp after the mass is accelerated in one direction and an arm also moved with the mass is arranged to assist in contact separation after the mass is accelerated in the return direction. Additionally, the specification describes systems for use with the described flasher to signal lamp failure.

PATENTED 0m 5 I97! SHEET 3 OF 7 //V VE/VJ'OPS ear W Z i 01v w JPN. rm A 0.0% W w v1 0 FLASHER AND BULB OUTAGE CIRCUIT THEREFOR CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 695,767, filed Jan. 4, 1968, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This application relates in general to signal-timing apparatus and more particularly to timing apparatus for intermittently lighting vehicle lamps and/or signalling lamp failure.

2. Description of the Prior Art Flashers for vehicles conventionally utilize a thermal or bimetal element which heats and cools to periodically open and close a circuit to a bulb or lamp for flashing the lamp. Usually one or more flashing lamps at both the front and rear of the vehicle are used for indicating either a left turn or a right turn or an emergency stop condition. The rate at which the thennal element reaches a temperature sufficient to open and close the lamp circuits is dependent on the ambient temperature, system voltage and the lamp current, the latter being also dependent on the number of lamps. This situation makes the degree of accuracy required by vehicle manufacturers for the bulb on-tirne or off-time difiicult to secure economically. In addition thermal flashers often require difi'erent sized to accommodate different lamp loads and suffer frequent contact failures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the electromagnetic means are a spring-biased inertia drive of the type employed in clock or hour meter mechanisms,

together with a gear train interconnected between the spring bias and the inertia weight for controlling the closed and open time of the lamp contacts and therefore the on-otf time of the lamps. Since the frequency with which this mechanism operates is relatively unaffected by ambient temperature or by voltage and current fluctuation, desirable on-off time periods of the lamps can be accurately maintained economically and both large and variable lamp loads can be easily accommodated.

In addition, by using a drive of the type described, a standard large contact and supporting spring blade can be economically provided for controlling all types of lamp currents with minimum danger of contact sticking or welding. This is made possible by the ability of the system to utilize sufficient power even at low voltages to drive the blade and to assist in return of the blade in the event of contact sticking.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an economical flasher for reliably controlling the on-off time of vehicle lamps over a large variety of ambient conditions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle lamp flasher providing reliable operation under large or variable lamp loads or supply voltages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flasher-incorporating means for assisting contact separation.

To signal lamp failure or bulb outage with the described arrangement it is proposed in the present invention to utilize a current-sensitive relay having a bulb outage winding in the circuit to the lamps for sensing the change in current in the event of lamp failure and signalling this failure.

There are also circumstances such as occur on an emergency vehicle stop when it is undesirable to provide the bulb outage signal on, for example, failure of only one bulb. On an emergency stop it is desirable to simultaneously flash the vehicle turn signal lamps for both the left and right sides. This is done by operating a hazard switch and approximately doubles the lamp load, while at the same time it is necessary that in the event of lamp failure the remaining lamps be kept flashing until only a predetermined minimum number of lamps are capable of functioning.

To accomplish this latter purpose a second winding on the relay is placed in series with the bulb outage winding on operation of the hazard switch. The second winding ensures against overloading of the bulb outage winding and prevents the relay from releasing until a predetermined large number of lamps fail.

Accordingly, it is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a system for signalling lamp failure in.a

vehicle lamp flashing system utilizing a reciprocating spring mass for flashing the lamps.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved and more economical system for indicating lamp failure in a system utilizing a reciprocating spring mass for flashing the lamps and/or a system for indicating lamp failure which is selectively controlled to provide a lamp failure indication under different circumstances.

The present invention also proposes to provide a compact economical arrangement of the aforedescribed apparatus in which the parts are either easily adapted or used in common for various functions depending on the users need. To achieve a compact economical arrangement a common card carries the coil of the repetitively energized electromagnetic means in a position spaced from the card and the gear train and weight are carried intermediate the electromagnetic means and the card, with the axes of the gears and weight perpendicular to the coil. A bulb outage assembly may then be supported on the card with the axis of current-sensitive relay winding parallel to the shaft axis.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent on examination of the following specification and claims together with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a flasher assembly incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the flasher assembly shown in FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the flasher assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 together with a lamp circuit therefor;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a flasher assembly such as shown in FIGS. 1-3 together with current-sensitive relay;

FIG. 5 illustrates a circuit in which the flasher assembly and relay shown in FIG. 4 are used to provide a lamp failure indication under different circumstances;

FIG. 6 illustrates another circuit in which a current-sensitive relay is used with a flasher such as in FIGS. 1-3 to provide a lamp failure indication;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a housing including a flasher assembly;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the flasher assembly enclosed in the housing portrayed in FIG. 7 with the housing omitted;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the gear segment employed in the gear train and inertia weight assembly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of he assembly shown in FIG. 9 together with a bulb outage assembly for signalling a bulb failure or outage condition; 1

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken generally along the line l3l3 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 12 together with a sectional view illustrating the housing therefor;

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the assemblies shown in FIG. 9 together with another bulb outage assembly;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 16-16 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the assemblies shown in FIG. together with the housing shown in FIG. 9 in section; and

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram illustrating the manner in which the assemblies of FIGS. 15-17 function to provide a bulb outage indication.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 a flasher assembly is indicated therein by the reference character 10. The assembly 10 comprises a supporting plate 12 of insulating material and around which a can or cover (not shown) may be crimped for enclosing the assembly 10.

A coil 14 having a U-shaped heelpiece 16 is supported on the plate 12 for attracting an armature 18 on energization of the coil. The armature 18 is conventionally pivoted on an edge portion of one leg of the heelpiece and has an extended arm 20.

A coil spring 22 is connected between a when the one heelpiece leg and the armature 18 for the purpose of biasing the armature l8 and arm 20 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 or away from the coil 14 and its core towards the nonnal or home position of the armature. The extended arm 20 carries a contact 24 at the end opposite coil 14 for engagement with a contact 26 to enable completion of a circuit to coil 14 for energizing the coil. Armature 18 has a stop nose opposite the arm 20 and this stop nose 21 engages in a hole in the opposite heelpiece leg for the purpose of limiting armature travel in opposite directions by engagement against opposite hole edges with one hole edge setting the normal or home position of the armature under the influence of spring 22 as seen in FIG. 1.

Contact 26 is carried on an upwardly projecting arm 28 formed on a gear 30. Gear 30 is mounted on a shaft 32 pivotally supported at one end in plate 12 and at its opposite end in a U-shaped frameplate 34. A cam 36 is located on shaft 32 for a purpose to be explained. Gear 30 and cam 36 are biased in one direction by a coil spring 38 mounted between the gear arm 28 and a notch 39 in the frameplate plate 34. Contact 26 is thus also biased in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 towards engagement with contact 24, which in turn serves as a stop for contact 26.

Gear 30 engages a small pinion gear 40 which in turn is mounted on a shaft 42 carrying another gear 44. Shaft 42 likewise is pivoted in plate 12 and frameplate 34. Gear 44 engages with a small pinion gear 46 mounted on a shaft 48 which carries an inertia weight 50 so that substantial mechanical advantage is achieved permitting the use of a relatively small inertia weight and speed reduction between movement of the inertia weight and contact 26 carried by gear 30.

The arm 20 moves toward the core of coil 14 on energization of the coil and the movement of the armature and contact 24 terminate when the armature nose 21 engages the edge of the hole in the heelpiece 16. Due to the inertia of weight 50, the gears 46, 44 and 30 continue to rotate and disengage contact 26 from contact 24. Disengagement of contacts 24 and 26 deenergizes the coil 14 and spring 22 returns the armature and contact 24 to their home or normal positions. The momentum or inertia of the weight need not be great to create contact separation, since the gear train provides a substantial mechanical advantage. The movement of arm 20, therefore, continues for a distance and at a rate determined by the momentum of the weight 50 and the ratio between gears 46, 44 and 30. This provides a substantial time period in which contacts 24 and 26 are open instead of the rapid action of a simple spring mass system, and after the momentum of weight 50 is reduced to the force stored in spring 38, the spring 38 returns the gears and contact 26 to their home or normal positions to reenergize the coil.

The U-shaped frameplate 34 includes end legs 52 and 54 which are staked to plate 12. Leg 52 has a terminal 56 thereon to which an external electrical connection is extended. The

opposite leg 54 carries an L-shaped cantilever spring blade 58 having a free end to which a contact 60 is fastened for engagement with a contact 62. Contact 62 is fastened to a tenninal 64 which is staked to plate 12 and external electrical connection may be extended thereto. A lead 66 extends the connection from terminal 64 to one terminal of coil 14. The other terminal of coil 14 is connected to heelpiece l6 and therefore contact 24 so that the coil may be energized through engagement of contacts 24 and 26.

Blade 58 is biased in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings by its own spring tension. A pusher or projecting arm 68 on gear 30 engages blade 58 in the event of contact sticking during return movement of gear 30 under bias of spring 38 to assist in contact separation. Contact 60 is therefore normally disengaged from contact 62. Blade 58 is engaged by a stop 69 formed on leg 52 of the frameplate 34 as best seen in FIG. 3 to limit clockwise movement of blade 58. Contacts 60 and 62 are large contacts adapted to carry heavy lamp loads of up to eight 01 157 lamps at 15 volts, for example, thereby accommodating lesser lamp loads without requiring changes. The spring blade 58 is correspondingly heavy to aid in overcoming any tendency on the part of the contacts to weld during separation.

The blade 58 is operated by cam 36 to engage contacts 60 and 62 after contacts 24 and 26 have separated in response to energization of the coil 14. The cam is generally cylindrical but has a flat or cutaway face 70 aligned parallel to and spaced from the blade 58. The cam, therefore, does not operate e blade until after gear 30 has begun its rotation to accelerate the inertia weight. The edge at the intersection of the flat and cylindrical faces then engages the blade 58 about midway between the free end of the blade and its supported frameplate end to move contact 60 toward contact 62. When the contacts 60 and 62 engage the continued movement of the cam flexes the blade additionally, as blade 58 is then held between the contacts and the frameplate while the distance between the blade and center of rotation of the cam is less than the radius of the cam. This creates contact wipe. After frameplate coil is deenergized and the inertia weight accelerates on the return movement, the pusher 68 engages the blade 58 to aid in separating the contacts 60 and 62 and prevent their welding.

A turn signal switch TS, diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 3 is operated to extend a circuit for coil 14 from ground through either the right-side or left-side lamps RS or L8, respectively, depending on the direction in which switch TS is operated for selecting a respective set of turn signal lamps, terminal 56, the plate 34, gear 30, arm 28, contacts 26 and 24, armature l8, heelpiece 16, coil 14, lead 66 and terminal 64 to battery. A dashboard indicator lamp for each side is also indicated by the characters RI and LI respectively.

Coil 14 is of course high resistance and therefore even though current passes through the lamps, they do not light at this time, while armature 18 moves toward the coil core to pivot arm 20 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in the drawings. Contact 26 and gear 30 are therefore pivoted in the same direction. This imparts movement to gears 42, 44 and 46 to accelerate the inertia weight 50.

Cam 36 engages blade 58, after the weight 50 is accelerated, and moves the contact 60 into engagement with contact 62. The circuit to the lamps is now completed directly from terminal 64, contacts 62 and 60, the plate 34 and terminal 56 to light the lamps brightly. Contacts 60 and 62 actually do not engage until travel of armature 18 toward coil 14 is terminated, and the contacts 24 and 26 have separated to open the circuit to the coil 14. If contacts 60 and 62 did engage prior to separation of contacts 24 and 26, coil 14 would simply be shunted from the circuit, however, as long as the coil is fully energized to accelerate weight 50, little difference would occur in the operation. In either event the coil 14 is deenergized, while the weight 50 moves gear 30 against the tension of spring 38 until the energy of weight 50 is dissipated. In the meantime cam 36 flexes blade 58 to create contact wipe on closure of contacts 60 and 62 to ensure the lamp circuit is adequately completed, while armature 18 and contact 24 are returned to normal or their home position under the influence of return spring 22.

When the energy of weight 50 is dissipated, it starts to return under the influence of spring 38 and after it accelerates in the return or clockwise direction, the cam 36 is disengaged from spring 58 to permit contacts 60 and 62 to open under the influence of spring 58. The arm 68 on gear 30 also then engages blade 58 while the weight 50 is moving at maximum velocity in the return direction to aid in separating contacts 60 and 62 for extinguishing the lamps. Thereafter contacts 24 and 26 engage to repeat the cycle as long as the turn signal switch TS is operated for energizing coil 14.

The above-described apparatus operates at between 80-100 cycles per minute at a supply voltage between 9 and 16 volts DC with anywhere between one and eight lamps drawing 2 amps at 12 volts. The lamps are lighted between 40 percentand 60 percent of each cycle. Since the components are only slightly affected by ambient conditions, frequency is maintained at lower supply voltages.

It will be appreciated that the circuit for coil 14 need not be completed through he lamps RS or LS. Instead terminal 56 may be connected through the appropriate turn signal switch contacts directly to ground for energizing the coil independently of the lamps and the blade 58 electrically isolated from the frameplate 34 and connected directly through its own terminal to the lamps selected on operation of the turn signal switch. This of course permits the lamps to be initially lighted or extinguished as desired when the coil is energized.

In FIG. 4 the structure of the flasher shown in FIGS. 1-3 is illustrated in combination with a current-sensitive relay 98 to form an assembly 100 and in FIG. 5 a circuit is shown utilizing the current-sensitive relay 98 in combination with coil 14 to provide a bulb outage indication. Where feasible parts in FIGS. 4 and 5 similar to those in FIGS. 1-3 are referred to by similar reference characters, however, the flasher contacts will be identified by new reference characters to simplify the description. As before described the flasher 10 comprises a coil 14 energized from battery extended to the coil from lead 66 and from the coil over contacts 24 and 26 hereinafter referred to as contacts 102, however, the circuit is now completed through the relay 98 and through the turn signal switch and lamps to ground instead of directly through the switch and lamps as before described. The energized coil drives an inertia weight through a gear 30, as before explained, and opens contacts 102 and closes flasher contacts 60 and 62 hereinafter referred to as contacts 104 for the purpose of fully energizing or visibly lighting the lamps.

The circuit for flasher 10 in this case is arranged differently from that previously described, as will be explained, and the flasher is mounted on an electrically insulating plate 106 fabricated somewhat larger than plate 12 for also carrying the current-sensitive relay 98. The current-sensitive relay 98 is a double-wound relay having two windings or coils 108 and 110 schematically illustrated in FIG. 5 together with a heelpiece 112. An L-shaped armature 114 is provided for relay 98 and the armature is conventionally hinged adjacent one end of the heelpiece 112 for movement toward the coil core against the bias of a spring 116. A contact 118 is carried at the end of one leg of the armature 114 for engagement with a contact 120 under the bias of spring 1 16 and the two contacts are generally indicated as a contact set 122.

Contact 120 is supported on an L-shaped metal lug 124 staked into plate 106. Coil spring 116 biases the armature 1 14 so that contacts 122 do not open unless the relay 98 draws a predetermined minimum current, which can be selected by altering the tension of spring 116 and/or the gap between the armature 114 and coil core.

Contact 118 and the armature 114 are conventionally connected to ground through heelpiece 112, while contact 120 is connected from lug 124 through a 200 ohm resistor 126 to the heelpiece 16 and corresponding terminal of coil 14, which as before described, is connected through contacts 102 to the bracket 34 and to one contact 60 of contacts 104. The other terminal of coil 14 is connected through lead 66 and terminal 64 to battery so that the coil '14 is energized through contacts 122 and resistor 126, however, the relatively high resistance of resistor 126 prevents the coil from rotating armature 18 against the bias of spring 22.

Bracket 34 as mentioned is connected to open contacts 104, but instead of being connected directly to the turn signal switch, as before, is connected over a lead 128 to one winding 108 of the double-wound current-sensitive relay 98. The other end of winding 108 is connected over a lead 130 and a terminal lug 132 directly to each pole TSl and TS2 of a two-pole double-throw turn signal switch TS. The other end of coil 108 is also connected to the second winding of the currentsensitive relay 98. The other end of winding 110 is connected over a lead 134 and a terminal lug 136 to each pole H51 and H82 of a double-pole single-throw hazard switch HS. The hazard switch HS is operated to place all of the vehicle tumindicating lamps in a flashing condition in the vent of an emergency stop or the like.

The make contacts of pole TSl of the turn signal switch TS are connected to ground through the right rear or left rear turn indicator lamps RRL or LRL, respectively. The make contacts for the other pole TS2 of switch TS are connected to ground through the front turn indicator lamps FRL or FLL, respectively, at the respective right and left vehicle sides with one of the lamps connected to pole TS2 being a respective dashboard indicator lamp RD or LD.

Coil 14, as mentioned, is energized continually through contacts 102, the 200 ohm resistor 126 and contacts 122. Because of the 200 ohm resistor the coil 14 draws insufiicient current under these circumstances to attract its armature 18, and therefore contacts 102 remain closed and contacts 104 remain open. If desired, switch contacts may be placed on the turn signal and hazard switches TS and HS for completing the above circuit for coil 14 only in response to operation of either of the switches.

On operation of the turn signal switch TS for either lighting the left or right turn signal lamps, a circuit for the coil 14 is completed from contacts 102, the lead 128, winding 108 of the current-sensitive relay 98, the poles TSl and TS2 of the make turn signal switch and the make contacts extending to either the left or right turn-indicating lamps to place the lamps in series with coil 14 and in shunt with resistor 124.

Since the circuit from coil 14 through winding 108 and the lamps is relatively low resistance, the coil 14 energizes suffrciently to operate its armature 18 while the high resistance of the coil 14 prevents the lamps from visibly lighting, as previously explained. Contacts 102 therefore open and contacts 104 close to fully energize the lamps and the current-sensitive relay 98. Relay 98 opens contacts 122 to remove resistor 126 from the circuit to coil 14. Contacts 102 thereafter close and contacts 104 open in response to he inertia weight return movement as previously explained. Coil 14 then reenergizes sufficiently to attract its armature and the operation is repeated to flash the lamps.

If one of the lamps should fail, coil 108 draws less current than normal. Under this circumstance contacts 122 will fail to open. Therefore, when contacts 102 open in response to movement of armature 18 toward the coil core, a circuit will still be completed for coil 14 through contacts 122 and resistor 126. At the time contacts 102 open, the armature 18 is near the coil and core and, therefore, the coil 14 will hold the armature pulled in or adjacent the core since the magnetic interaction is a maximum at that position and compensates for the minimum energization of the coil. The inertia weight 50 on its return movement will open contacts 104 and then reclose contacts 102 at the position where contacts 102 normally begin their separation. The contacts 102 will therefore remain closed since no force is thereafter transferred to the weight 50 by the stationary armature 18. With contacts 104 open, relay 98 does not fully energize and all the lamps remain off including the dashboard indicator lamp RD or LD to signal the lamp failure.

In the event the hazard switch H8 is operated instead of the turn signal switch, the operating circuit for coil 14 is completed from contacts 102, windings 108 and 110 in series,

both poles H81 and H82 of switch 118 to the lamps on both sides of the vehicle. Coil 14 energizes toopen contacts 102 and close contacts 104 to fully energize the lamps, which now flash as before described.

The use of two windings 108 and 1 10 in series prevents contacts 122 from closing if one or more lamps should now fail to ensure continued flashing of the other lampsfThis is desirable in the vent of an emergency stop, for example, to provide an emergency signal for as long as feasible. Since the resistance of individual lamps now forms a much smaller proportion of the load and because of the added windings on relay 98, up to seven lamps out of a total of eight lamps may fail before relay 98 fails to open contacts 122. Coil 14 then holds armature 18 adjacent its coil to prevent the lamps from lighting as before explained, and signals the failure condition. I

In FIG. 6 another circuit for signalling bulb outage or turn signal lamp failure is illustrated for use with the flasher 10 described in FIGS. 1-3. In FIG. 6 the coil 14 is connected through normally closed contacts 140 corresponding to contacts 24 and 26 through a single wound current-sensitive relay .142 to the armature of a turn signal switch TS. The turn signal switch TS", which may be either single pole, as shown, or a double pole as shown in FIG. 5, is adapted to connect to ground through either the right or left turn signal lamps RS or L to the relay 142. The dashboard indicator lamps RD and LD, however, instead of being conventionally connected in series with a respective front turn signal lamp, are arranged to be connected to ground at either contacts 144 or 146, respectively of the current-sensitive relay 142. The contacts 144 and 146 close in response to the full energization of current-sensitive relay 142.

In this arrangement coil 14 is energized on closure of the switch TS" through contacts 140, the winding of current-sensitive relay 142 and ground through the lamps RS or LS, respectively, depending on the direction in which switch TS" is operated. Contacts 140 then open and contacts 148 corresponding to contacts 104 close to fully energize relay 142 and the lamps. The current-sensitive relay 142 operates to close its contacts 144 and 146 to light the dashboard indicator lamp RD or LD depending on the direction switch TS" is operated and corresponding to the turn indicated by operation of the switch. Contacts 140 and 148 open and close cyclically in a manner already described to flash the turn indicator lamps, and relay 142 likewise energizes sufficiently to close contacts 144 and 146 cyclically in response to cyclic closure of contacts 148 to flash one of the dashboard indicator lamps RD or LD.

In the event one of the lamps should fail, relay 142 fails to draw sufficient current to close contacts 144 and 146. The dashboard light RD or LD corresponding to the turn direction therefore remains off to signal the lamp failure.

In FIG. 7 a compact flasher assembly 200 is illustrated. Assembly 200 is of the type accomplishing the same functions as the flasher assembly shown in FIGS. 1-3; however, it is arranged so that auxiliary assemblies for accomplishing various bulb outage functions can be added to the basic structure within the same small space as will be explained in conjunction with FIGS. 12-18.

The flasher assembly 200 includes an electrically insulating generally rectangular hollow shell or cover 202 having an integrally formed backwall 204 from which a locating leg 206 projects adjacent one corner. The shell 202 is approximately 1.3 inches l.6 inches long on respective sides and approximately 1% inches deep. An opening 208 is provided adjacent the corner of the shell opposite leg 206 for the purpose of receiving a mounting screw or lug. Other mounting arrangements may of course be used.

An electrically insulating base card or plate 210 as seen in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 close the open end of the shell 202 opposite backwall 204 and supports an electromagnetic assembly 212 and an inertia weight gear train assembly 214 within shell 202.

Assembly 212 includes a 30 ohm coil 216 and a U-shaped heelpiece 218 pivotally supporting an L-shaped armature 220 adjacent the end of one heelpiece leg. A coil spring 222 biases the armature 220 in one direction for engaging a contact 224 at the end of one armature leg with a contact 226. Contact 226 is carried at one end of an upstanding arm 228 formed on a gear segment 230 of the gear train assembly 214.

The heelpiece 218 is formed with depending legs 232 and 234, which are staked to the support plate 210 so that the coil 216, and armature 220 are supported in a position spaced from and above the plate 210. In addition a second insulating plate 236 is staked to the heelpiece 218 between legs 232 and 234 so that plate 236 is spaced above and from the first insulating plate 210.

The gear train assembly 214 is located primarily between the two plates 210 and 236. The gear train assembly 214 comprises the gear segment 230 pivotally supported by means of a shaft 238 in plates 210 and 236. Gear segment 230 is biased for swinging contact 226 in the direction of armature contact 224 by means of a coil spring 240 connected at one end to an upstanding arm 242 formed on the segment 230. Am 242 extends through an arcuate slot 243 in plate 236.

Gear segment 230 meshes with a pinion 244 pivotally supported between plates 210 and 236 by means of a shaft 246 for the purpose of pivoting a gear 248 on the shaft 246. Gear 248 in turn meshes with a pinion 250 carried together with an inertia weight 252 on a shaft 254 pivotally supported between plates 210 and 236. Appropriate bearing supports for shafts 238, 246 and 254 may of course be provided in plates 210 and 236, and it will be noted that the shaft axes are perpendicular to the elongate axis of coil 216, thereby facilitating the compact arrangement.

A terminal 256 is staked to plate 210 and it has an extending upper lug 258 staked to plate 236 to serve as a fixed connection for spring 240. Lug 258 extends an electrical connection from one terminal of battery through spring 240 to the gear segment 230 and also supports a cantilever spring blade 260 intermediate the two spaced plates 210 and 236. Blade 260 extends in a direction generally parallel to the elongate axis of the coil 218 and adjacent one edge of plate 236. Spring blade 260 has a bifurcation or spring wiper portion 262 thereon for engaging shaft 238 of the gear segment 230 under tension to duplicate the electrical connection provided by spring 240 to gear segment 230. Blade 260 at its free end carries a tab 264 and a contact 266.

Contact 266 is adapted to engage a fixed contact 268 on movement of the gear segment 230 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. The gear segment 230 is moved by the armature 220 on energization of coil 216 to rotate a cam 270 attached to segment 230 for flexing blade 260 to engage contacts 266 and 268, after contacts 224 and 226 open in a manner previously explained. On counterclockwise or return movement of the segment 230 under influence of spring 240, the tab 264 is engaged by a pusher portion 272 on the gear segment 230 to assist in separating the contacts 266 and 268.

Contact 268 is carried adjacent the corner of a generally L- shaped lug 274, staked to plate 210 and having a terminal 276 depending therefrom to extend an external electrical connection to ground through the turn signal switch and selected turn signal lamps.

In the described assembly 200 operation of the turn signal switch TS such as shown in FIG. 3 completes a circuit from battery through terminal 256, lug 258, springs 240 and 262 in shunt, gear segment 230, contacts 226 and 224, armature 220, heelpiece 218, coil 216 and over a lead 278 to the lug 274 and terminal 276 and from terminal 276 to ground through the turn signal switch and selected turn signal lamps as previously described in connection with FIG. 3. Since the lamps are in the high resistance circuit of coil 216, they do not visibly light, however, the current therethrough obviously aids in reducing the shock of subsequent inrush current and extends lamp life.

The coil 216 energizes to attract armature 220 from its normal position and rotate contacts 224 and 226 together with gear segment 230 against the bias of springs 222 and 240 until armature 220 engages its stop. Rotation of the gear segment 230 rotates the pinions 244 and 250 to in turn rotate the inertia weight 252. Weight 252 maintains the gear segment 230 in motion alter armature 220 is stopped to'separate contacts 224 and 226 and deenergize coil 216. As earn 270 rotates with segment 230, the earn 270 engages against spring blade 260 for flexing the blade against its bias and engaging contacts 264 and 266 for fully lighting the lamps over a circuit extending from battery at lug 258, blade 260, contacts 266 and 268, lug 274, terminal 276 to ground through the lamps and turn signal switch as previously explained. With coil 216 deenergized, the armature 220 and contact 224 return to the normal position under the influence of spring 222 in preparation for the return of the gear segment 230 and contact 226.

When the energy stored in the gear train and inertia weight assembly 214 is sufficiently dissipated, the spring 240 starts to return the gear segment 230 and inertia weight 252 to normal. The cam 270 therefore separates from blade 260 and the blade 260 returns to normal to separate contacts 266 and 268 for extinguishing the lamps. The pusher portion 272 engages tab 264 during return movement of the segment 230 to assist in the separation of contacts 266 and 268 in the event of contact sticking. Contacts 224 and 226 thereafter again engage to reenergize the coil 216 and the cycle is repeated for brightly lighting of flashing the turn signal lamps.

In FIGS. 12-14 an electromagnetic assembly 212 and an inertia weight gear train assembly 214 similar to respective assemblies in flasher assembly 200, shown in FIGS. 7-10, are illustrated together with a bulb outage assembly 300. Parts in FIGS. 12-14 identical to those in FIGS. 7-10 are identified by similar reference characters. The assemblies 212, 214 and the bulb outage assembly 300 are contained within the shell 202 and are carried by a common card or plate identified as 210 in FIGS. 12-14. Plate 210' is the same dimensions as plate 210, but is identified differently since different openings are provided therein from card 210 for receiving the bulb outage assembly and a slightly different terminal arrangement.

The bulb outage assembly 300 comprises a current-sensitive relay coil or winding 302 located on one vertical leg 304 of a U-shaped heelpiece 306 with ends of the heelpiece legs staked to card 210. One end of winding 302 is connected to a staked opening in the heelpiece 306 to provide an electrical connection therebetween and the other end of winding 302 is connected to a lug 308 staked in card 210' and having a terminal 310 for extending an external electrical connection through one pole of a turn signal switch S1 to the external turn signal lamp such as indicated by box L in FIG. 13.

I-Ieelpiece 306 is electrically connected to contact 268 by means of a strap 312. Contact 268 is mounted in the same position as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10; however, the lug on which it is mounted is identified as 314 in FIGS. 12 and 14, since the terminal 276 and the adjacent portion of lug 274 parallel to blade 260 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are omitted in FIGS. 12-14.

Lug 308 has a fixed plastic stop 316 at one end as seen in FIG. 14 and this top is engaged by the back of a contact 318 carried on the free end of a cantilever mounted spring blade 320. Blade 320 is provided with a magnetically susceptible iron strap 322 to permit attraction of the blade 320 by winding 302 for engaging contact 318 with a contact 323 carried by heelpiece 306. Blade 320 is supported at the end opposite contact 318 by a lug 324, which is staked to car 210' and has a terminal 326 depending therefrom for extending an external electrical connection through another pole of turn signal switch S1 to a dashboard indicating lamp such as l.

The bulb outage assembly 300 shown in FIGS. 12-14 is for use with a two-pole turn signal switch S1 indicated schematically in FIG. 14 and/or a hazard switch. Switch S1 provides an extra pole to extend a circuit to the dashboard indicator I independently of the circuit to the external vehicle turn signal lamps indicated at L. Operation of the turn signal switch S1 extends a circuit from battery through terminal 256, lug 258,

springs 240 and 262 in shunt, gear segment 230, contacts 224 and 226, armature 220, heelpiece 218, the coil 216 to the lug 314 over lead 278, the strap 312, heelpiece 306, winding 302, lug 308 and terminal 310 to ground through the switch S1 and the external load L. The lamps of load L do not visibly light since they are in series with the high resistance coil 216; however, the coil 216 energizes to open contacts 224 and 226 and close contacts 266 and 268, as previously explained. Opening contacts 224 and 226 deenergizes coil 216, while closing contacts 266 and 268 connects battery directly from terminal 256 and lug 258, over blade 260, lug 314, strap 312, winding 302, lug 308 and terminal 310 to the lamps of load L. Since the lamps of load L are connected directly to battery through he current-sensitive relay winding 302, the lamps now visibly light.

If all lamps of load L are lighted, the coil 302 is energized sufficiently to attract blade 320 and close contacts 318 and 323, for lighting the dashboard indicator lamp I. This extends the potential at contacts 266 and 268, strap 312 and heelpiece 306 through contacts 318 and 323, blade 320, lug 324 and terminal 326 to ground through switch S1 and the dashboard indicator lamp I.

Contacts 266 and 268 thereafter open in a manner previously explained to extinguish all the lamps and contacts 224 and 226 thereafter reclose as explained in response to movement of the weight 252 and tension of spring 240. Coil 216 then energizes again as before explained to attract armature 220 for opening contacts 224 and 226 and closing contacts 266 and 268 in a manner previously explained to visibly light the lamps and the cycle is repeated.

If one of the lamps of load L should fail, coil 302 will of course receive insufficient current to close contacts 318 and 323 during the time contacts 266 and 268 are closed. The dashboard lamp I will therefore remain off to signal this bulb outage condition.

In FIGS. 15-17 an electromagnetic assembly 212 and an inertia weight gear train 214 together with another type of bulb outage assembly 400 are illustrated for use within the same shell 202. Parts in FIGS. 15-17 similar to those in FIGS. 7-14 are identified by the same reference characters as shown in FIGS. 7-14 and the assemblies 212, 214 and 400 are enclosed with a shell 202 and carried on a card of identical dimension to card 210.

The assembly 400 is primarily intended to accomplish similar purposes as the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 5; however, in some vehicles provision is not made to extend the circuits shown in FIG. 5 through the conventional vehicle ignition switch. Therefore coil 14 can remain energized through resistor 126 in the event of bulb failure, despite release of the turn signal switch and bulb replacement. The bulb outage assembly 400 shown in FIGS. 15-17 avoids this problem and since the circuit is somewhat more complex, a circuit indicat ing he electrical cooperation between the elements in FIGS. 15-17 is shown in FIG. 18.

The bulb outage assembly 400 is similar to assembly 300 in the use of a current-sensitive relay winding 401 on one leg of a U-shaped heelpiece 306 for operating a spring blade 402. Winding 401 is similar to winding 302 and has one end connected to a lug 308 and terminal 310 and the other end of winding 401 is connected to heelpiece 306 as previously described for winding 302. The spring blade 402 has a magnetically susceptible strap and a contact 318 at one end for engaging a contact 323 on the heelpiece 306. However, the lug 324 which supports the corresponding blade 320 in FIG. 14 is omitted and blade 402 is instead supported from a lug 404. which also supports contact 268 so that blade 402 is electrically connected to contact 268.

Additionally, strap 312 extending between contact 268 and heelpiece 306 is omitted and juncture between heelpiece 306 and winding 401 is instead connected over a lead 406 to one end of a holding coil 408. Holding coil 408 encircles a portion of coil 216 and is provided for holding armature 220 in its operated position as will be explained. The other end of coil 408 is connected to lug 404 and contact 268 over a lead 410 so that it is also commonly connected to the same end of coil 216 as lead 278. Lug 404 has a terminal 412 for extending an external connection through a hazard switch H1 shown in FIG. 18 to all of the turn signal lamps.

Coil 216 has one end connected, as before described, to lug 258 and battery through heelpiece 218, armature 220, contacts 224 and 226, gear segment 230 and springs 240 and 262. An additional connection from lug 258 to coil 216 is provided by a resistor 414 connected between lug 258 and heelpiece 218. Resistor 414 is obviously shunted, when contacts 224 and 226 are closed.

When the turn signal switch S2 shown in FIG. 18 is operated, the end of coil 216 connected over lead 278 to lug 404 is connected through lead 410, coil 408, lead 406, winding 401, lug 308 to ground through the terminal 310, switch S2 and the lamps including the dashboard indicator lamp all designated by the broken lines connected to switch S2. Coil 216 energizes to operate armature 220 for opening contacts 224 and 226. After contacts 224 and 226 open, the circuit to coil 216 through resistor 414 in series with the coil 216 becomes effective so that coil 216 remains partially energized. Coil 216 is sufficiently energized to hold armature 220 adjacent the coil core, although insufficiently energized to operate the armature from its unoperated position. The lamps of course do not light visibly in series with coil 216 and resistor Contacts 266 and 268 close thereafter to more fully energize the lamps from battery through blade 260, contacts 266 and 268, tenninal 404, lead 410, coil 408, lead 406, winding 401, lug 308, terminal 310, the switch S2 and ground through the selected lamps. With contacts 266 and 268 closed, coil 216 and resistor 414 are shunted; however, coil 408 is energized in series with winding 401. Coil 408 holds armature 220 in its operated position, but is unable by itself to operate armature 220 from its unoperated position.

If all lamps are lighted winding 401 is energized sufficiently to close contacts 318 and 323. This shunts coil 408 to deenergize coil 408 by connecting battery at contact 268 on lug 404 through blade 402 directly to heelpiece 306. With both coils 216 and 408 deenergized armature 220 restores to permit contacts 224 and 226 to close in the appropriate unoperated position of armature 220 on return movement of gear segment 230. Closure of contacts 224 and 226 of course occurs after contacts 266 and 268 open on return on the inertia weight 252 and gear segment 230 as previously explained. Opening contacts 266 and 268 visibly extinguishes the turn signal lamps.

With contacts 266 and 268 open and before contacts 224 and 226 close on return movement of the gear segment 230, a momentary circuit is completed from battery at lug 258, through resistor 414, coil 216, lead 278, lug 404, lead 410, coil 408 shunted by contacts 318 and 323, lead 406, winding 401, lug 308, terminal 310, switch S2 and ground through the lamps. Since armature 220 under the influence of spring 222 has already moved away from the core of coil 216, the coil 216 in series with resistor 414 is ineffective to reoperate the armature 220, while the high resistance in circuit with winding 401 permits that winding to open contacts 318 and 323 to remove the shunt on coil 408. The described lamp-lighting procedure is then repeated on closure of contacts 224 and 226 to flash the lamps.

On the other hand, if one or more the lamps should fail to light on closure of contacts 266 and 268, winding 401 fails to energize sufficiently to close contacts 318 and 323. Since the armature 220 is close to the core of coil 216, the low ohmage holding coil 408, which remains energized because contacts 318 and 323 are open, is effective to hold the armature 220 in its operated position adjacent the coil core.

The gear segment 230 is returned as previously explained to open contacts 266 and 268 and coil 216 then energizes through resistor 412 as previously explained. The armature 220 therefore remains close to the core so that the contact 226 engages contact 224 on armature 220 with the armature 220 in its operated position. The gear segment 230 and inertia weight 252 therefore cannot be given an impulse by the armature 220 and coil 216 fully energizes through contacts 224 and 226 to retain the armature in its operated position. Contacts 266 and 268 therefore remain open and the dashboard indicator lamp remains deenergized to signal the off or bulb outage condition of one of the turn signal lamps.

When the turn signal switch S2 is returned to the open or normal condition, the circuit through coils 216, 408 and 401 is opened. With coils 216 and 406 deenergized, the armature 220 and gear segment 230 return to their normal or unoperated condition in preparation for normal cycling and flashing of the unoperated signal lamps as soon as the bumedout bulb is replaced.

The hazard switch H1 is connected directly to lug 404 through terminal 412. Operation of the hazard switch therefore simply shunts coils 401 and 406 and the lamps flash on and off in response to repeated closure and opening of contacts 266 and 268 without the provision of a bulb outage signal. Thus, coil 216 is initially energized from battery at lug 258 extended to one end of coil 216 through contacts 224 and 226 in shunt with resistor 414 and ground extended to terminal 412, lug 404 and lead 278 to the other end of coil 216 on operation of the hazard switch H1. When contacts 224 and 226 open in response to operation of armature 220 by energized coil 216, resistor 414 remains in series circuit with coil 216 so that coil 216 is sufficiently energized to hold the armature 220 operated. Contacts 266 and 268 closing momentarily thereafter connected battery from terminal 258 directly to lug 404 and terminal 412 through blade 260 to visibly light all lamps, while shunting coil 216 and resistor 414. Coil 216 therefore deenergizes to allow armature 220 to return to normal. Contacts 266 and 268 open as gear segment 230 also returns to normal.

Coil 216 momentarily reenergizes through resistor 414 when contacts 268 and 266 open; however, since the armature 220 is then spaced from the coil core and the circuit for coil 216 is through the high resistance of resistor 414, the coil 216 cannot attract the armature 220 to operated position. Contacts 224 and 226 reclosing thereafter initiate another lamp flashing cycle.

The foregoing is a description of an improved flasher for use in intermittently lighting vehicle or other lamps, together with means for signalling the operator in the event of lamp failure, with the inventive concepts thereof believed set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vehicle direction signalling system comprising a power supply, two pluralities of turn signal lamps each connected to one pole of said power supply, a first lead, a turn signal switch operable in one direction for connecting one of said pluralities of lamps to said first lead and operable in another direction for connecting the other plurality of lamps to said first lead, a coil having an armature, means connecting one terminal of said coil to the other pole of said power supply, a pair of contacts with one of said contacts carried by said armature and connected to the other terminal of said coil, means biasing said armature and one contact to one limit position, a plurality of rotatable gears arranged in a gear train with one gear electrically interconnected with the other contact and carrying said other contact for rotational movement therewith, means in cluding a spring electrically connecting said one gear to said first lead with said spring biasing said one gear and said other contact to engage said one contact in said one limit position to enable the completion of a circuit over said first lead to said coil through said gear and contacts for energizing said coil in response to operation of said switch, an inertia weight interconnected with said one gear through said gear train for rotational acceleration by said one gear in response to either the operation of said armature or the bias of said spring with the momentum of said weight thereafter assisting the rotational movement of said one gear, said armature operated on energization of said coil for moving said one contact to another limit position while imparting a rotational movement to said other contact, one gear and inertia weight with the momentum of said weight rotating said one gear and other contact against the bias of said spring to separate said contacts and deenergize said coil whereafier said armature biasing means returns said one contact to said one limit position and said spring dissipates the momentum of said weight and rotates said one gear and inertia weight for reengaging said other contact with said one contact for reenergizing said coil, a fixed contact connected to the other pole of said power supply, means including a spring blade fixed at one end and connected to said first lead, a contact at the other end of said spring blade for engaging said fixed contact, first means fixed to said one gear for rotation in respective directions to engage said blade intermediate said blade ends in response to rotation of said one gear in one I direction for engaging said blade contact with said fixed contact to hold said blade between said fixed end and fixed contact to flex said blade and complete a low-resistance circuit to said selected plurality of lamps over said lead to light said selected lamps, and second means fixed to said one gear for rotation in respective directions with said one gear and spaced relative said one gear for engaging said blade at a position spaced from said blade fixed end for separating said blade contact and fixed contact in response to rotation of said one gear in the opposite direction only after said inertia weight is rotating in a corresponding direction to provide momentum to said gear and second fixed means for separating said blade and fixed contacts and open said lamp-lighting circuit for extinguishing said selected plurality of lamps with said second fixed means disengaging from said blade in response to the rotation of said gear in said one direction to enable completion of said low-resistance lamp-lighting circuit.

2. in the system claimed in claim 1, a second lead, a hazard switch for connecting both pluralities of said lamps to said second lead in response to the operation of said hazard switch, a first current-sensitive winding connected in series with said selected plurality of lamps over said first lead and turn signal switch in said low-resistance circuit, a magnetically susceptible core on which said winding is wound, means operated by said current-sensitive winding in response to the completion of said low-resistance circuit and the failure of one of said selected plurality of lamps for indicating said failure, another current-sensitive winding wound on said core, and means for connecting said other current-sensitive winding in series with said first current-sensitive winding in response to the operation of said hazard switch for lighting both pluralities of lamps in response to the engagement of said blade and fixed contacts for operating said lamp failure indicating means only in the event a plurality of lamps fail to light.

3. The system claimed in claim 2 in which said failure indicating means comprises means for maintaining said armature coil continuously energized.

4. The system claimed in claim 2 in which said means fixed to said gear for separating said blade contact and fixed contact comprises an arm integrally formed on said gear having said gear carried contact fixed thereto for engaging said armature contact.

5. A vehicle direction signalling system comprising a power source, two pluralities of vehicle turn signal lamps each of low resistance and connected to one pole of said power source, a first lead, a turn signal switch operable in one direction for connecting one of said pluralities of lamps to said lead and operable in another direction for connecting the other plurality of lamps to said lead, a coil having a high resistance to prevent lighting said selected lamps in response to said coil being connected over said lead in series with said selected lamps, opposite end terminals for said coil with one of said end terminals connected to other pole of said source of power, an armature for said coil carrying a contact electrically connected through said armature to the other tenninal of said coil and pivoted by said armature in response to energization of said coil, a spring biasing said armature and contact toward one limit position, a pluralit of engaged rotatable ears arranged m a gear tram in who one gear has a greater iameter than the engaged other gear, a second contact formed on said one gear and electrically connected to said one gear, a rotatable inertia weight adapted to be rotated by said one gear in response to rotational movement of said one gear transmitted to each other gear, means electrically connecting said one gear to said lead, means biasing said one gear in one direction for engaging said other contact with said one contact in said one limit position to connect said high resistance coil in series with said selected lamps over said lead for energizing said coil through said contacts in response to the operation of said switch whereby said energized coil pivots said armature from said one limit position toward a second limit position to rotate said one gear against said gear bias in a direction opposite said one direction for rotating said engaged other gear and inertia weight, said armature and one contact terminating movement in response to said armature pivoting to said second limit position whereafter said gears and inertia weight continue movement to separate said one and other contact for deenergizing said coil for enabling said spring bias to return said armature and one contact to said one limit position, said gear bias thereafter returning said one gear in said one direction for reengaging said contacts to reenergize said coil in series with said selected lamps in response to the dissipation of the momentum of said weight and gears, a spring blade cantilever supported at one end from a fixed position and biased in a respective direction, a contact at the other end of said spring blade electrically connected through said blade to said lead and selected lamps, a fixed contact connected to the other pole of said source of power and spaced from said blade contact, an arm on said gear spaced from said blade with the radius of rotation of said arm greater than said am space from said blade for rotation with said one gear in said opposite direction into engagement with said spring blade intermediate said blade ends for moving said spring blade against the bias of said blade for engaging said blade contact with said fixed contact and thereafter flexing said blade between said fixed end and fixed contact while said engaged blade and fixed contacts connect said selected lamps to the other pole of said power source for lighting said lamps, said arm rotated with said one gear in said one direction for disengagement from said blade to enable said blade and fixed contact to separate for extinguishing said selected lamps, and means fixed to said gear in a position for engaging said blade at a position spaced from said fixed end in response to said gear being rotated in said one direction while said weight is rotated for imparting an additional force separating said blade contact from said fixed contact.

6. in the system claimed in claim 5, one generally planar card of electrically insulating material fixedly carrying said fixed contact and a plurality of terminals for connection respectively to said lamps over said lead and to said power source, a second generally planar card of electrically insulating material fixed in spaced relationship to said one card with said weight and gears each rotatably supported at respective spaced-apart positions by said cards for rotation about respective parallel axes and said coil located adjacent the side of said second card opposite said one card and having an elongate axis perpendicular to the axes of said gears and weight for pivoting said armature contact along an are lying in a plane passing intermediate the ends of the coil diameter, and means integrally formed on said gear for locating said gear contact in said plane for rotation along an arc in said plane intersecting said armature contact are. 

1. A vehicle direction signalling system comprising a power supply, two pluralities of turn signal lamps each connected to one pole of said power supply, a first lead, a turn signal switch operable in one direction for connecting one of said pluralities of lamps to said first lead and operable in another direction for connecting the other plurality of lamps to said first lead, a coil having an armature, means connecting one terminal of said coil to the other pole of said power supply, a pair of contacts with one of said contacts carried by said armature and connected to the other terminal of said coil, means biasing said armature and one contact to one limit position, a plurality of rotatable gears arranged in a gear train with one gear electrically interconnected with the other contact and carrying said other contact for rotational movement therewith, means including a spring electrically connecting said one gear to said first lead with said spring biasing said one gear and said other contact to engage said one contact in said one limit position to enable the completion of a circuit over said first lead to said coil through said gear and contacts for energizing said coil in response to operation of said switch, an inertia weight interconnected with said one gear through said gear train for rotational acceleration by said one gear in response to either the operation of said armature or the bias of said spring with the momentum of said weight thereafter assisting the rotational mOvement of said one gear, said armature operated on energization of said coil for moving said one contact to another limit position while imparting a rotational movement to said other contact, one gear and inertia weight with the momentum of said weight rotating said one gear and other contact against the bias of said spring to separate said contacts and deenergize said coil whereafter said armature biasing means returns said one contact to said one limit position and said spring dissipates the momentum of said weight and rotates said one gear and inertia weight for reengaging said other contact with said one contact for reenergizing said coil, a fixed contact connected to the other pole of said power supply, means including a spring blade fixed at one end and connected to said first lead, a contact at the other end of said spring blade for engaging said fixed contact, first means fixed to said one gear for rotation in respective directions to engage said blade intermediate said blade ends in response to rotation of said one gear in one direction for engaging said blade contact with said fixed contact to hold said blade between said fixed end and fixed contact to flex said blade and complete a low-resistance circuit to said selected plurality of lamps over said lead to light said selected lamps, and second means fixed to said one gear for rotation in respective directions with said one gear and spaced relative said one gear for engaging said blade at a position spaced from said blade fixed end for separating said blade contact and fixed contact in response to rotation of said one gear in the opposite direction only after said inertia weight is rotating in a corresponding direction to provide momentum to said gear and second fixed means for separating said blade and fixed contacts and open said lamp-lighting circuit for extinguishing said selected plurality of lamps with said second fixed means disengaging from said blade in response to the rotation of said gear in said one direction to enable completion of said lowresistance lamp-lighting circuit.
 2. In the system claimed in claim 1, a second lead, a hazard switch for connecting both pluralities of said lamps to said second lead in response to the operation of said hazard switch, a first current-sensitive winding connected in series with said selected plurality of lamps over said first lead and turn signal switch in said low-resistance circuit, a magnetically susceptible core on which said winding is wound, means operated by said current-sensitive winding in response to the completion of said low-resistance circuit and the failure of one of said selected plurality of lamps for indicating said failure, another current-sensitive winding wound on said core, and means for connecting said other current-sensitive winding in series with said first current-sensitive winding in response to the operation of said hazard switch for lighting both pluralities of lamps in response to the engagement of said blade and fixed contacts for operating said lamp failure indicating means only in the event a plurality of lamps fail to light.
 3. The system claimed in claim 2 in which said failure indicating means comprises means for maintaining said armature coil continuously energized.
 4. The system claimed in claim 2 in which said means fixed to said gear for separating said blade contact and fixed contact comprises an arm integrally formed on said gear having said gear carried contact fixed thereto for engaging said armature contact.
 5. A vehicle direction signalling system comprising a power source, , two pluralities of vehicle turn signal lamps each of low resistance and connected to one pole of said power source, a first lead, a turn signal switch operable in one direction for connecting one of said pluralities of lamps to said lead and operable in another direction for connecting the other plurality of lamps to said lead, a coil having a high resistance to prevent lighting said selected lamps in response to said coil being connectEd over said lead in series with said selected lamps, opposite end terminals for said coil with one of said end terminals connected to other pole of said source of power, an armature for said coil carrying a contact electrically connected through said armature to the other terminal of said coil and pivoted by said armature in response to energization of said coil, a spring biasing said armature and contact toward one limit position, a plurality of engaged rotatable gears arranged in a gear train in which one gear has a greater diameter than the engaged other gear, a second contact formed on said one gear and electrically connected to said one gear, a rotatable inertia weight adapted to be rotated by said one gear in response to rotational movement of said one gear transmitted to each other gear, means electrically connecting said one gear to said lead, means biasing said one gear in one direction for engaging said other contact with said one contact in said one limit position to connect said high resistance coil in series with said selected lamps over said lead for energizing said coil through said contacts in response to the operation of said switch whereby said energized coil pivots said armature from said one limit position toward a second limit position to rotate said one gear against said gear bias in a direction opposite said one direction for rotating said engaged other gear and inertia weight, said armature and one contact terminating movement in response to said armature pivoting to said second limit position whereafter said gears and inertia weight continue movement to separate said one and other contact for deenergizing said coil for enabling said spring bias to return said armature and one contact to said one limit position, said gear bias thereafter returning said one gear in said one direction for reengaging said contacts to reenergize said coil in series with said selected lamps in response to the dissipation of the momentum of said weight and gears, a spring blade cantilever supported at one end from a fixed position and biased in a respective direction, a contact at the other end of said spring blade electrically connected through said blade to said lead and selected lamps, a fixed contact connected to the other pole of said source of power and spaced from said blade contact, an arm on said gear spaced from said blade with the radius of rotation of said arm greater than said arm space from said blade for rotation with said one gear in said opposite direction into engagement with said spring blade intermediate said blade ends for moving said spring blade against the bias of said blade for engaging said blade contact with said fixed contact and thereafter flexing said blade between said fixed end and fixed contact while said engaged blade and fixed contacts connect said selected lamps to the other pole of said power source for lighting said lamps, said arm rotated with said one gear in said one direction for disengagement from said blade to enable said blade and fixed contact to separate for extinguishing said selected lamps, and means fixed to said gear in a position for engaging said blade at a position spaced from said fixed end in response to said gear being rotated in said one direction while said weight is rotated for imparting an additional force separating said blade contact from said fixed contact.
 6. In the system claimed in claim 5, one generally planar card of electrically insulating material fixedly carrying said fixed contact and a plurality of terminals for connection respectively to said lamps over said lead and to said power source, a second generally planar card of electrically insulating material fixed in spaced relationship to said one card with said weight and gears each rotatably supported at respective spaced-apart positions by said cards for rotation about respective parallel axes and said coil located adjacent the side of said second card opposite said one card and having an elongate axis perpendicular to the axes of said gears and Weight for pivoting said armature contact along an arc lying in a plane passing intermediate the ends of the coil diameter, and means integrally formed on said gear for locating said gear contact in said plane for rotation along an arc in said plane intersecting said armature contact arc. 